While my weekly sports blog is mainly focused on Western Bay sport, Sideline Sid is also an avid follower of what's happening in international sport.

Two events in the coming weeks will ensure plenty of sleepless nights. The arrival of Sky Television nearly two decades ago ensured all sports nuts in New Zealand get wall to wall top level sports from the four corners of the globe.
The Ashes cricket series in Blighty and the All Blacks participation in the Tri Nations rugby series will see plenty of late nights.
For worldwide cricket fans there is nothing bigger than the Ashes fought out between England and Australia. It is one of cricket's most celebrated rivalries and dates back to 1882. It is currently played bi-annually, alternately in England and Australia. This year's series started last week - with a drawn result.
It is interesting to find out why it is called the Ashes. The series was named after a satirical obituary in the Sporting Times in 1882, after a match where Australia beat England on an English ground for the first time.
The obituary stated that English cricket had died, the body was to be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour to Australia as a quest to regain the ashes.
During the 1982/83 tour, a small terracotta urn was presented to the England captain, Ivo Bligh, by a group of Melbourne women. The contents are reputed to be the ashes of a bat, ball or stumps. Replicas of the urn were often held aloft in victory to celebrate a series win. Since the 1998/99 series, a Waterford Crystal representation of the Ashes urn has been presented to the Ashes winner.
Australian currently holds the Ashes after emerging victories from the 2006/07 series in Australia after a five zip whitewash. While test cricket is popular and played around the world, no other series generates more interest and plays in front of sold out venues than the Ashes.
When England visits Australia for the Ashes, the pilmagrage of the Barmy Army is worth the price of admission alone. The coming together of thousands of chanting English supporters is a sight to behold.
The other event that will play to packed out venues and screaming support is the annual Tri Nations rugby series, which kicks off this Saturday night at Eden Park against the old enemy - Australia.
While the All Blacks defend Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup champions, in my book they should be considered the outsiders. What could only be called woeful performances against France got worst when they just scrambled past Italy.
However the All Blacks, against the Ausies and the Seth Efrekens brings out the best in the Mighty Blacks.
Go, All Blacks.